2/2/08 Changes at Midnight Gallery
My Holland gallery, Till Midnight Gallery has had several major changes and I have some real concerns about the effect of these changes on patrons access to the artwork and on our prospective sales.
The management has:
1) Hired a new gallery manager (good news)
2) Moved the physical gallery space (within the renovated Baker's Loft building) (not so good)
3) And have asked me to come and pick up a large portion of my artwork due to these changes.
CONCERN 1:
The former gallery space was quite ideal, as artwork could be seen - day or night - through the spacious glass windows by walk-by customers even when the gallery was closed. Now you must physically enter the deli/bakery space to see the artwork. That means not only must the bakery be open, you must walk through and turn around and look at the back wall to see the art. Less access means visibility!
CONCERN 2:
The restaurant management is now offerring combined show opening with wine tastings. This new offering will require patrons to pay $10.00 for their wine at show receptions (they say due to state regulations that say (as a restaurant) they can no longer give away free wine.) Quite frankly I do not think this new system is going to work as patrons are use to show openings, and food, being free!!
CONCERN 3:
The physical space and the open walls for artwork are now located in a very out-of-the-way location. Loft owners won't see the artwork walking by, restaurant goers won't see the art walking into the main gallery, and customers of the interior design firm that took over the old gallery space won't see the artwork unless they walk into the deli and turn around...
The new gallery manager says that these changes are being made in order to sell more work which is a great goals... however I have three serious doubts - and I perceive these changes as additional physical roadblocks to both customer access and art sales?
The management has:
1) Hired a new gallery manager (good news)
2) Moved the physical gallery space (within the renovated Baker's Loft building) (not so good)
3) And have asked me to come and pick up a large portion of my artwork due to these changes.
CONCERN 1:
The former gallery space was quite ideal, as artwork could be seen - day or night - through the spacious glass windows by walk-by customers even when the gallery was closed. Now you must physically enter the deli/bakery space to see the artwork. That means not only must the bakery be open, you must walk through and turn around and look at the back wall to see the art. Less access means visibility!
CONCERN 2:
The restaurant management is now offerring combined show opening with wine tastings. This new offering will require patrons to pay $10.00 for their wine at show receptions (they say due to state regulations that say (as a restaurant) they can no longer give away free wine.) Quite frankly I do not think this new system is going to work as patrons are use to show openings, and food, being free!!
CONCERN 3:
The physical space and the open walls for artwork are now located in a very out-of-the-way location. Loft owners won't see the artwork walking by, restaurant goers won't see the art walking into the main gallery, and customers of the interior design firm that took over the old gallery space won't see the artwork unless they walk into the deli and turn around...
The new gallery manager says that these changes are being made in order to sell more work which is a great goals... however I have three serious doubts - and I perceive these changes as additional physical roadblocks to both customer access and art sales?
